Machine for feeding sheets of paper



10 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'Patented Mar.. .12, 1895.

(No Model.)

J.'H. KNOWLES. `1\l[AGHIl\TE-FOR EEEDING SHEETS 0F PAPER. No. 535,380.

YNE Num WITNES SE 1S" (No Model.)

. 1o 'sheets-sheet 2. J. H. KNOWLES. AMACHIIY FOR FBEDING SHEETS 0F PAPER.

Patented Mar. l2, 1895..

TH: Nnms Pneus co. PHoTx-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, o. c,

(No Model.) 10 Sheets- Sheet 3.

J. H. vKINOWLLS. l MACHINE EUR FEEDING SHEETS 0E `PAPER. No. 535,380.

Patented Mar. l2, 1895.

v L wif/vrom m: Noums Permis co Fn (No Model.) 10 sheets-*sheet 4.

J. H. KNOWLES.

MACHINE EOE EEEDING. SHEETS 0E PAPER. No.v 535,380I Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

Jvmvess s: i EFM? E E E E v E WQ..

' (No Model.) 10 Sheets- Sheet 5.

J. H. KNOWLES. MACHINE EOE EEEDING SHEETS 0E EAEEE.

No. 535,380. V- Patented Mar.. 112, 1895..

WITNESSES: /NYENTOH' (No Model.) 10 Sheets-Shet 6.`

. J. H. KNOWLES.

MACHINE POE -PEEDING SHEETS 0F PAPER.

Patented MaInlZ, 1895. 'l

ww U5 LV1 wu@ C' 'Ima-g@ filiali/fir -3.... r pnrpr @O m1 O QI H 6 on I WITNESGES:

me Ncnms PETERS co. wuovauwc.. wAsHumjoN, o. c.

' (No Elodel.)

J. H. KNOWLES'. MACHINE EUR EEEDING SHEETS OE PAPER.

No. 535,380. Patented Mahl-2, 1895.

. NNN.

10 Sheets-Sheen:` 9.

J. H. HHOWLHS.

(No Model.)

MACHINE POR FHHDIHG SHEETS 0H PAPHH.

Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

WITNESSES.'

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 10.

J. H. KNOWLES. MACHINE EOE EEEEING SHEETS 0E PAPER.

N0. 535,380. Patented MEI. 12, 1895.

wif/155656 nrntv'r JOI-IN HENRY KNOWLES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF PAPER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,380, dated March 12, 1895./

Application filed J'uly 21,1894. Serial No. 518,198. (No model.) i

To all whom, t 71mg/ con/037%:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY KNowLns, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Feeding Sheets of Paper, the., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for removing sheets of paper, dac., separately from a pack or pile and delivering them singly to any machine to which it is desired to supply successive sheets, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification.

I have shown my invention embodied in an organized machine designed to separate the sheets from the pack or pile and deliver them in an accurately registered condition to the machine to be fed; but the mechanism may, if desired, be embodied in and become a part of the machine which acts upon the separately fed sheets. A

While I have shown and described my machine as speciallydesigned for separating and feeding rectangular sheets, it may, with proper modifications, be used for sheets or blanks of diamond or irregular shape.

I have shown my machine as specially designed for feeding sheets of paper to ruling machines but by omitting` certain parts of the mechanism, as will be pointed out hereinafter, the machine is equally applicable for feeding other machines, such as printing and lithographic presses, machines for folding, punching, the.

In the operation of my machine I prefer not to completely withdraw each sheet separately from the pack, but to advance the front edge of each sheet somewhat beyond the following sheet and while the sheetsare in this relation to fully withdraw them from the pack and to lay them in the same relative positions upon a conveyor or apron, and to employ ad ditional mechanism for acting upon the advanced edge of each sheet as it is delivered by the conveyer to complete the separation of the sheets from one another.

My invention embraces improvements in the device for holding the sheets in a pack or pile, whereby very long sheets are more securelysupported in the holderand whereby the followers are arranged and supported in an improved manner.

My invention also embraces improvements in the devices for individualizing sheets from the others in the pack or pile and for withdrawing the sheets when so individualized.

My Vinvention also includes a device for registering the sheets while in a partly sepa-` rated oondion upon the conveyer after they have been removed from the pack and before they are completely or finally separated.

My invention includes a stop motion controlled by the sheets which are being fed to arrest the operation of the machine whenever there is any interruption or irregularity in the feeding of the sheets. I provide also a connection between the stop operating mechanism and the holding device whereby the machine will be stopped when` the pack of sheets within the holder has reached a certain stage of depletion.

My invention further includes mechanism for accomplishing the final separation. of the sheets as they pass from the conveyer, and means for varia-bly operating this mechanism whereby the sheets may be delivered following one another in close succession, or with any desired space between them or with the edges of the sheets overlapped in either direction.

In addition to these improvements my invention includes also many other features of construction and combination of parts, allof which are fully set forth and claimed hereinafter.

i I shall now referto the accompanying drawings for the purpose of more particularly describing my invention.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of myim proved machine for feeding sheets of paper, thc. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe machine with the upper portion of the holder broken away. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the opposite side of the machine. Fig. 4- is a plan view of the machine with part in horizontal section below the line 1,1,of Fig. Land with the frictional withdrawing drum removed. Fig. 5 is a front elevation partly in section of that portion ofthe machine lying in the rear of the line 2, 2 of Figi, and with the rollof the conveying apron removed and the upper por- ICO tion of the holder broken away. Fig. 6 isa rear elevation with the top of the holder and the lower portion of the machine omitted. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of part of the machine with the lower portion of the machine omitted. Fig. S is a front elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 of a portion of the machine with the withdrawingr devices removed to expose the individualizing mechanism. Fig. 9 is a similar view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 with the parts in a different position. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the machine on an enlarged scale showing certain parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a similar view on a still more enlarged scale and showing parts in another position. Fig. 12 is a detail side elevation partly in section of the spacing lout mechanism. Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of a portion of the saine. Fig let is a detail View of the gear CZ and attached parts looking in the direction opposite to Fig. 12. Figs. 15 and 16 show details ofthe spacing out mechanism in different positions. Fig. 17 is a view of the roll lifting device of the spacing out mechanism looking in a direction opposite to Fig. 12. Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of the buckling devicelooking iu the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 19 is a bottom View of a portion of the saine. Figs. 20 and 21 are views looking iu the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 and showing the side registering device with parts in different positions. Fig. 22 is a section on theline 3, Fig. 5 of the end of the counter driving shaft. Fig. 23 is a section of the same on the line 4--4 Fig. 22. Figs. 24 and 25 are similar sections each on the line 5 of Fig. 2 showing a detail of the stop-motion with parts in different positions .in the two figures; and Fig. 26 is a detail section ofan end of the stop-inotion rocker shaft.

For the purpose of making the description of the detailed construction of the machine more clear, I shall refer to the different portions separately.

Tlzc frame of the rncchfincr-'Ihis may be of any convenient form and construction. As shown A are the side frames connected together bysuitable girths or braces A', A2. The side frames are further supported by the bottom of the sheet holder, which operates as a girth across the machine, and by the cross brace rods which support the slats on the front of the holder. For convenience of construction I divide each frame side into rear and forward sections bolted together as shown. Upward extensions of the frame sides form the side frames of the sheet holder.

The sheet holding cmd supporting devices.- These devices are designed to hold a series of sheets on edge, preferably in a position inclined slightly forward, and to permit the sheets to be successively withdrawn from the front of the pack. In the drawings I have shown the preferable construction of these sheet holding devices; but it will be readily understood that these devices may be modified and varied inconstruction without in any way affecting the other portions of my invention.

B is the bottom of the holder on which the edges ofthe sheets rest. This bottom extends entirely across'the machine and is bolted to the side frames A.

The front of the holder may consist of any suitable support arranged at the proper inclination to the bottom B, with its lower edge sufficiently distant from the front edge of the bottom piece to permit the sheets to be separated from the pack and removed.

I prefer to construct the front of the holder in the manner shown in the drawings. As shown it consists of alternately arranged idler rollers C and slats C', with the peripheries of the rollers projecting slightly beyond the faces of the slats so as to act upon the face of the foremost sheet. The rollers may be provided on their ends with journals supported in bearings held by the side frames A. The slats C may beformed of sheet metal and attached to brace rods extending across the machine between the rollers and secured to the side frames A. The idlers C may be constructed in any suitable manner, but I prefer to construct them of metal tubes covered with felt or other material which will act with more or less friction upon the sheets. The rollers C act merely to assist the withdrawing devices in removing the foremost sheet from the holder by reducing the friction that would exist between the front of the holder and the sheet. The extreme lower edge of the front sheets in the holder is retained in position by a slightly projecting lip B extending all across the front edge of the bottom of the holder.

In order to diminish the force with which the pack of sheets presses against the front of the holder and thereby lessen the friction of the sheets as they are withdrawn from the pack it is desirable to have the front of the holder as nearly vertical as possible so that the weight ofv the sheets will rest mainly on the bottom of the holder. to construct the front of the holder with so small an inclination as ten degrees from the vertical. With such a front moderately stiff sheets are successfully supported, but if the sheets possess more than a certain degree of fiexibility the longer sheets when supported at so small an inclination in a holder having a straight forward incline to its front have a tendency to bulge rearwardly at about the middle of their height. To prevent this I form the upper portion of the front of the holder with a slightly forward curvature whereby the upper parts of the longer sheets bend forward and rest upon the front and are consequently more firmlysupported than they would be if resting against a front having a straightforward incline. In this manner very thin and liexible sheets of considerable length may be supported without any tendency to become disarranged.

I find it practical I The sidecheeks of the holder maybe formed by upward extensions of the side frames A as shown, and I prefer to face the cheeks on the inside with facings D, D', preferably of wood.

To hold the pack of sheets in place with the foremost sheet in contact with the front of the holder I prefer to employ followers resting on the bottom piece B. As shown in the drawings these followers `may be constructed of a metal base piece E supporting a wooden frame E. The base piece E may be provided with a tongue or tongues E2 adapted to the grooves B2 in the upper face of the bottom B of the holder acting to guide the followers as they gravitate downward upon the bottom.

Owing to the peculiar mechanism by which the sheets are individualized inthis machine, as will be hereinafter described, it is neces sary that the sheets should always be placed inthe holder with one of their side edges close against one of the sides of the holder. In a machine constructed as I have shown, the pack of sheets should always bear against the side cheek D of the holder. Hence, when sheets having a width less than the entire width of the holder are being fed, a portion of the holder adjacent to the side cheeks D will be empty. A `single follower extending entirely across the holder might be employed, but it would be inconvenient to operate, and, when narrow sheets were being fed, that side of the follower adjacent to the side cheeks D would be unsupported by sheets, and the weight of such unsupported portion of the follower would press against that corner of the narrow pack of sheets which was nearest to the side cheek D', and thereby cause an undue pressure on that corner. If the pack were less than half the width of the holder the single follower would tilt toward the unsupported side and would render the operation of thefollowerentirelyineffective. Hence I prefer to employ several narrow followers and to provide means for adjusting them with the varying width of the sheets.

It is desirable for the successful operation of the peculiar individualizing device which I employ in this machine that that corner of the pack adjacent to the side cheek D should be under a constant and uniform pressure. Hence I provide one follower to operate upon that corner of the pack always, and this follower need not be adjustable. It is desirable that a follower should press upon or n`ear to the corner of the pack opposite the side cheek D, but intermediate portions of the width of the pack need not be pressed upon by a follower if such intermediate portion have no considerable width. If very narrow sheets are placed in the holder the single follower adjacent to the side cheek D will be all that is required. With wider sheets a second follower is employed. With still wider sheets three followers may be used and more than three if necessary. The bottom B is provided with a series of grooves B2 and the followers may be shifted from one groove to another so as to have any position desired and the grooves may be more or less numerously placed upon the bottom. Other means for adjusting the followers might be employed but the method shown is sufficient, in practice, as the followers do not require to be very accurately placed.

When the front of the holder is curved .for ward on its upper part, as described, followers may be employed of less height than would otherwise be-required ofthe pack, which falls over and rests upon the curved part of the holder, need not be pressed upon by followers.

To replenish the pack additional sheets are added from time to time. This is done by drawing back the followers and introducing the sheets between them and the back of the pack. Heretofore, when refilling the holder the followers have been either entirely removed from the holderor held back by hand, with more or less inconvenience to the operator, while the added sheets were being supplied.

I have provided my machine with a novel and convenient means for supporting the followers when not required to press upon the pack, and, when so supported to leave the entire holder free of incumbrance.

F is a rod extending across and somewhat above the rear edge ofthe bottom of the holder and supported therefrom by brackets F. The rear ends of the bases E of the followers are provided with projections or hooks E3 adapted to engage the rod F. When a follower is to be removed it is first drawn up the incline of the bottom B of the holder until its further movement is obstructed by contact with the rod F, as shown in Fig. 3. The top of the follower is then turned over rearward and the hook E3 passes over and engages the rod, until the holder hangs downward suspended upon the rod as shown in Fig. 1.A B this method of removing the followers from the bottom a follower'does not require to be lifted by the operator as the base or heavy part of the follower is at all times resting upon the bottom B or upon the rod F. "he follower is replaced in operative poA 'tion by movements the reverse of those described for removing it. Each follower may be provided with two hooks E3, one to pass on each side of a bracket F when the follower happens to come in line with such bracket.

When a follower is out of use because of narrow sheets in the holder or forother cause it may, while out of use, be allowed to hang on the rod F.

The sheet individual/zing mechanism- This mechanism consists of devices for individualizing the foremost sheet from others in the pack preparatory to the operation of the withdrawing mechanism. For the purpose of individualizing the sheets I employ a reciprocating frictional-linger, by which a buckle or pucker is formed in the forward end of the sheet adjacent to one corner thereof and a because the upper part TOO reciprocating individualizing blade, which passes first under the buckled or puckered lcorner of the sheet and thence along the entire edge of the sheet completely separating that edge from the other sheets in the pack. In describing this apparatusI shall refer more particularly to Figs. l, 2, 4, 6, 8, f), l0, 11, 1S and 19.

I is the reciprocating frictional buckling finger. That end of the finger that acts upon the sheets in the pack is provided with a proper frictional pad to act on the surface of the sheet to be buckled or puckered. As shown in the drawings, such pad may be provided by the peripheries of disks of rubber or other frictional material. There may be two such disks, I', I', one on each side of the finger I, secured to the finger by a bolt or pin I2 which may be provided with a thumb nut I3. WVhen in operation, the disks are clamped firmly against the finger by the bolt so that they cannot turn. Upon the reciprocation of the finger the fixed frictional disks rest upon the sheet and, by their frictional contact therewith, cause the corner of the outermost sheet in the pack toslide upon the sub-adja cent sheet and form a buckle or pucker in the edge of the sheet operated upon adjacent to the corner. as shown gives a very secure and effective hold upon the sheet. Byloosening the thumb nut I3 the disks, or either of them, may be turned so as to present a fresh surface to the sheet and by removing the bolt I2 the disk may be removed and replaced by others.

The means for mounting and reciprocating the frictional finger may bc varied, but it is necessary, in order to produce the desired effeet, that the path of the finger should lead diagonally from the corner inward on the sheet. A convenient method of producing this movement is that shown in the drawings where I4 is an oscillating arm mounted on a stud I5 which is secured to the inside of the side frame A. The finger I is pivoted to the lower end of the arm I4 in such manner as to be unyielding in the plane of oscillation of the arm but capable of a free movementin a direction at right angles to such plane. By oscillating the arm I4 the rubbing pads I are caused to reciprocate in a curved path concentric with the stud I5, and, as the stud I5 is placed near the side edge of the sheets and at a proper distance from the forward ends thereof, it will be readily perceived that such curved path is substantially diagonally inward from the corner of the sheet, and that, by an inward movement of the rubbing pads, the outermost sheet of the pack will be caused to turn or bend from a point along the side of the sheet approximately opposite the stud I5 thereby producing a buckle or pucker in the lower edge of the sheet, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and by dotted lines in Fig. 18.

It is essential that the friction pads I should sheets with a uniform pressure be yielding in order bear upon the which should, however,

The use of two frictional disksthat the pads may accommodate themselves to any irregularities in the surfaces of the sheets. I therefore employ a spring IG which is rigidly attached at one end to the arm I"t with its free end resting upon a projection from the finger I. The spring thus presses the padded end of the finger constantly toward the pack of sheets.

I7 is a triangular corner guard secured by a rearward extension to the inside of the side frame A. The face of this guard covers a triangular portion of the corner of the pack of sheets and serves to hold that corner of the pack in proper position for the action of the buckling finger and also serves, by the friction created between the guard and the pack by the pressure of the pack against the guard, to insure the separation of but a single sheet from the pack by the action of the buckling finger, in accordance with a well known principle of such buckling devices. The separation of but a single sheet from the pack by the buckling device is further secured by the action of the edge lip B. As clearly shown in Fig. ll, this lip offers a slight obstruction to the outward bending ofthe edge of the otitermost sheet of the pack. In Fig. 1l the dotted curved line shows the curve followed by the sheet as it is bent outward from the pack. As the buckling finger makes its inward movement and turns the corner of the sheet, as previously explained, that portion of the forward edge of the sheet which lies opposite and adjacent to the buckling pads is removed by such turning action away from contact with the lip B so that such portion of the edge of the sheet is not obstructed by the lip; but, at a point more or less distant from the buckling pads where the turning effect becomes less on the edge of the sheet, the retarding action of the lip B operates to reduce the length of the buckle. If the sheets be thin and flexible the point where such retarding action of the lip B will entirely overcome the turning action produced by the buckling pads will be very near such pads and a short buckle will be produced,but if the sheets be stiff the retarding action of the lip will be overcome to a greater distance by the turning action and a comparatively long` buckle will be produced. Thus the action of the lip B is to cause the buckles to assume a length corresponding approximately to the stiffness of the paper being op' erated upon, and this is in accord with a well known principle of such buckling devices; that the separation of but asingle sheet from the pack is made more certain by producing as short a buckle as possible; thin and flexible sheets requiring shorter buckles than stiff sheets.

I8 is a cam fixed on the outer face of the corner guard I7 adapted to engage the finger I or a projection therefrom when the finger is withdrawn from the sheets, and thereby cause the finger and its frictional pad to lift away from the face of the pack. The cam is curved to correspond to the curved path of IOO IIO

the finger and is of such a shape as to cause the frictional pads to be lifted before they quite arrive at the edge of the guard. The cam should be of such height that the pads will be, at all times, lifted clear or" the guard while moving over the same. Upon the inward movement of the finger I the frictional pads are carried slightly forward over the edge of the guard I7 and are then allowed to impinge against the sheet by the falling slope of the cam. The friction finger is kept pressed against the cam by the action of the spring I6.

In order to communicate an oscillating motion to the arm I4 I form it into a bell crank shape by a lateral extension or side arm lg, which, for purposes of adjustment I make in a separate piece from the arm I4 and secure it thereto by bolts having thumb nuts 110. By these means the arm Iand lateral extension I9 may be clampedtogether in any position within the limit of adjustment provided for. The side arm I1 may be provided with a boss passing over the stud l5 so that both the arm I4 and the side arm l9 may oscillate on the stud, and thereby permit the relative positions of the two parts to be more accurately maintained in any adjusted position. The arm I9 is caused to oscillate intermittently and thereby through the connecting parts described to oscillate the arm I4 intermittently but always with the same amplitude of oscillation. By adjusting the relative position of the arm It1 and side arm I9 the path followed by the buckling pads may be caused to overlie the corner of the sheets beyond the guard I7 to a greater or less extent so as to give to the corner of the sheet a greater or less extent of pushing as may be found necessary in operA ating on sheets of different qualities or under dierent conditions. The cam I8 is extended outward to furnish support for the buckling linger when the arm I4 is adjusted so that the path of the linger is mostly outward from the sheets. If desired the same operative adjustment may be produced by providing means to vary the amplitude of oscillation of the arm I1 whereby as the amplitude of oscillation is varied the path followed by the buckling pads may be made longer or shorter and thereby cause the pads to move more or less beyond the guard I7, but the method of adjustment I have described is simple andet fective.

Various methods may be employed to os cillate the side arm I9 and attached arm I1, but I preferto eniploythat shown in the drawings where I11 is a coil spring attached to the end of the side arm I9 and to the side frame A and tends normally to pull the side arm downward and to project the buckling pads over the sheets. The side arm I9 is moved upward and the buckling pads retracted by the action of the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever l12 which acts on the side arm l9 through the medium of a friction roller I13 pivoted at or near the outer end of the side arm. The

lever I12 is pivoted on a stud suitably mounted on the side frame A. The perpendicular arm of the lever 112 is Operated by a cam 115 mounted on and turning with the shaft II and of such shape as to give to the buckling pads the proper amplitude of movement and to cause the movements to be made at the proper times. The shaft I-I which carries the cam 115 is journaled in suitable bearings in the side frame A and is located below the sheet holder. The lever I12 may he provided with a roller I14 to make contact with the cam 115.

J is the individualizing blade which preferably extends across the machine as shown in the drawings. The bladeJ may howeverextend 'only part way across the machine. The blade J is placed with its side parallel or nearly so with the face plane of the pack of sheets and has its line of action in or nearly in the same plane. that it occupies a normal position with its edge below the fro'nt edge ofthe holder. The edge of the blade .I is inclined relatively to the forward edges of the sheets forming the pack with the higher portion at the end adjacent to the buckling finger and the extreme end of the blade next to the buckling linger may be turned abruptly upward forming a pointed projection J as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This projection J is arranged ex actly opposite t-he buckle or pucker formed in the sheet by the buckling finger. The

' plane of action of the individualizing blade is as near to the front surface plane of the pack of sheets as may conveniently be and closer to the pack than the outer surface of the buckle. Vhen the blade .I rises the projection J first passes under the buckled or puckered portion of the sheet. As the blade continues to rise the inclined edge passes gradually under the entire edgeof the sheet, and crowds the edge outward over the lip B', thus separating the edge of the outermost sheet positively from others in the pack. As soon as the projection J has passed under the buckled sheet the buckler finger is retracted and withdraws the buckling pads sidewise intera position entirely outside of the plane of the side edges of the pack of sheets on that side and there remains at rest until the proper time to buckle the next sheet. In Fig. 8 a sheet is shown with the individualizing blade under the sheet and with the buckling device retracted.

Various means may be employed for reciprocating the blade J, but I prefer the method shown in the drawings. I construct the blade .I of sheet metal and bend the lower part of the blade rearward approximately at right angles to the plane of action of the blade. The rearwardly bent part of the blade I attach to ear pieces J2 carried on the ends of two or more rocker levers J3. The rocker levers J3 are supported by the rocker shaft G, journaled in suitable bearings in the side frames A and located below the sheet holder. The shaft G is placed very close against the The blade J is so located TOO IIO

IZO

under side of the bottom of the sheet holder and where the bosses of the rocker arms encircle the shaft the ridges on the under side of thebottom are cut away to admit the bosses as shown at B3 in Fig. G. Upward motion is given to the lever J3 and from thence to the blade J through the medium of frietional rollers J'VL pivoted to the levers JS by suitable cams J5 mounted on and turning with the shaft H. The lever J3 and blade J move downward by gravity.

The 'withdrawing devices-These devices consist of a withdrawing roller or drum for withdrawing the sheets from the pack, means for operating upon the edge of the sheet previouslyindividualized to bend it about the drum, and rollers for pressing the bent edge of the sheet against the drum. In describing these devices I shall refer more particularly to Figs. 1, It, 5, i0 and Il.

K is the withdrawing drum mounted on a shaft K which may be supported in bearin gs carried by the side frame A. This drum may be variously constructed as, for instance, with acontinuous surface covered with proper frictional material for taking a fractional hold of the sheets; but I prefer to construct the drum ofaseries of short sections each mounted individually on the shaft K and each surrounded externally with one or more rubber rings K2 to act upon the sheet at intervals only. This construction is plainly shown in the sectional part of Fig. 5.

The drum K is placed opposite the front of the holder at a proper distance from the bottom of the same. The surface of the drum is placed near but does not press upon the front face of the pack, and has a constant rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow.

J6 are a series of lips standing forward from the surface of the individualizing blade J. In practice I form these lips by bending outward a portion of the substance of the blade J, as shown in the drawings. The lips are so located on the blade that they will be behind the individualized edge of the sheet when the blade is in its raised position and will bend the edge forward from the pack. Figs. l and 8 show the lips in this position.

L, L, are a series of fingers each provided on its upper end with a curved piece L', preferably of sheet metal. These fingers are adapted to reciprocate in a plane parallel to but slightly in front of the plane of action of the individualizing blade J. The pieces L have au are of curvature of' slightly greater diameter than that of the outer surface of the drum K. In their normal positions the upper points of the lingers L are below the front edge of the holder and nearly touch the front surface of the blade J. When the fingers L are fully raised the top surfaces of the curved pieces L conform closely to the surface of the drum K but without touching it, thus forming a continuous space of uniform width between the drum K and the whole extent of the upper surface of the curved pieces L. After the blade J has completed its upward movement and the lips'J6 have bent the lower edge of the sheet slightly forward the lingers L rise and their points pass behind the edge bent forward by the lips J6. As the fingers L continue to rise the edge of the sheet is engaged by the curved piece L and still further bent forward until, on the completion of the rise of the fingers the edge of the sheet is bent about the surface of the drum K.

I prefer to place one finger L between each pair of lips JG and also to place a finger between eaeh exterior lip J6 and the adjacent side frame A. This arrangement is clearly shown in Figs. 4t and 8. The spaces between adjacent lips J6, or between adjacent fingers L are so narrow that the natural stiffness of the sheets is sufficient to prevent any material sagging of the edges of the sheets in such spaces. The spacing of the parts, as described, is necessary in order to prevent interference of parts during their respective movements. If desired, the curved pieces L may be beveled away on one or both sides, and I prefer to do this on that piece which comes next to the buckling finger as shown in Fig. S to insure the more certain entrance of that particular curved piece behind the sheet.

I prefer to mount and operate the fingers L in a manner similar to the mounting and operation of the blade J. The lower ends of the fingers L are soeketed and secured between horizontal strips of sheet metal L2. These sheet metal strips are bent rearward on their lower edges approximately at a rightangle to the plane of action of the fingers L. The rearwardly bent parts of the sheet metal strips L2 are attached to ear pieces L3 carried on the ends of two or more rocking levers L4. The rocking` levers L4 are supported by the shaft G. Upward motion is given to the levers L4 and from thence to the lingers L, by suitable cams LG mounted on and turning with the shaft I-I. The levers L4 maybe provided with rollers L5 making contact with the cams L'. The levers L4 and fingers L move downward by gravity. If preferred other methods of operating the fingers L may be employed.

After the edge of the sheet is bent about the drum K a frietional roller, so mounted as to press against the drum K, moves over the bent edge of the sheet and, by pressing the bent edge against the drum, causes the sheet to be withdrawn from the holder.

M is the shaft of the roller mounted in any suitable bearings upon a swingingframe, but preferably mounted in bearings of peculiar construction which are hereinafter described. The frietional pressure roller carried by the shaft M is constructed of separate disks or spools adapted to the spaces between the fingers L and may be of any ordinary construc- IOO IIO

tion but I prefer to construct and mount them in a peculiar manner as hereinafter described.

M is the cross bar of the swinging frame which supports the shaft M.

M2 are arms extending upward from either end of the cross bar M. The upper ends of these arms each terminate in aboss Miiadapted to embrace an inwardly extending hub of the bearings of the shaft K of the drum K. When thus mounted the bar M and the shaft M with its roller may be oscillated over a section of the periphery of the drum K. For

convenience of construction I prefer to form* the bosses M3 separately from the arm M2 and to bolt them thereto as shown. The arms M2 are placed in line with the facings D, D', of the sides of the holder and do not interfere with the passing of the sheets. The position occupied by'sheets as related to the arms M2 is shown by a dotted line in Fig. 5.

The oscillation of the bar M and attached frictional roller may be accomplished in any good mechanical manner, for instance, b y means of one or more cam actuated levers l 5, of which I prefer to use two, attached one to each end of the cross bar M.

M4 are rods or connections each pivoted at one end to the bar M and at the other end to the lower end of a rocking lever M5. The levers M5 are supported by the shaft G and are operated by cams M8 on the cam shaft I-I. The levers M5, the frictional roller and intermediate connections a-re held normally in a forward position by springs M1" between the levers M5 and the frame A. The levers M5 may be provided with rollers M7 making contact with the cams M5.

While the blade J and lingers L are operating, the bar M and attached frictional roller are in their normal position out of the line of action of those parts but, after the edge of the sheet has been bent against the drum K as described, the bar M and its frictional roller move forward and the disks of the frictional roller pass intothespaces between the lingers L and over, the bent edge of the sheet and bind the sheet against the drum, so that the frictional surface of the drum causes the sheet to move forward out of the holder. While the frictional roller is in this position the blade J and fingers L are each in the uppermost positions, as is clearly shown in Fig. ll. After the sheet has commenced to move forward from the holder the frictional roller resumes its normal position, and the blade J and fingers L drop to their lowermost positions ready to operate upon another sheet.

M9 are the frictional disks of the oscillating frictional pressure roller which are prefer` ably constructed of rubber or other proper frictional material and arranged opposite the rings K2 of the drum K. These disks are preferably mounted on spools M10, one pair of disks on each spool, and each spool with its two disks is adapted to pass into each space between adjacent fingers L. The spools M10 are hollowed out on each end leaving a thin central portion which is mounted on the shaft M and secured thereto by a set screw or other means. The shaft M is of small diameter and is provided with a series of bearings M11 one being at either end of the shaft and one between each pair of spools M111. All the bearings M11 and controlling parts are alike each to the other. The bearings M11 are provided with shoulders M12 which fit into the upper ends of sockets M13 formed in the bar M. In the lower ends of the sockets M13 are screwed key plugs M14. Stems M15 extend from the shoulders M12 passing through the sockets M13 into the key plugs M11. The bearings M11, shoulders M12 and stems M15 are preferably made in one piece and, when mounted as described, are free to move vertically in the sockets M15 but are held firmly against any lateral displacement. About the stems M15 are placed coil springs M16 bearing' against the shoulders M12 and key plugs M14, so as to project the bearings M11 outward from the bar M and, through the medium of the shaft M, cause the disks M11 to exert a constant pressure against the drum K. By turning the key plug M14 the tension of the spring M111, and consequently the pressure of the disks M9 upon the drum K, may be varied. These constructions are most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and Il, and by them I am able, toacertain extent, to cause the disks M11 to exert an individual pressure against the drum K, and to maintain the pressure exerted by the disks upon the drum the same in intensity each as the other notwithstanding the irregularities which may occur in the thickness of the sheets'. The uniform distribution ofpressure by the disks M9 is produced by the combined operation of three peculiarities of` construction: by a slight rocking of the spools M10 about their thin central mounting on the shaft M, by the flexibility of the thin shaft M and by thespring pressed bearings at frequent intervals along the length of the shaft.

In the operation of the mechanism described itis not necessary to completely withdraw one sheet from the pack or pile before another sheet is started therefrom, but, as soon as the forward edge of a sheet is sufficiently advanced by being partly Withdrawn from the pack to allow the oscillating frictionalpressure roller to make its return movement without passing off the edge of the sheet, all the parts return to their normal positions, and the buckling tinger passes between the pack and the outwardly bent sheet as it is being withdrawn and buckles another sheet. The edge of such sheet is bent upward by another operation of the edge bending devices described against the sheet previously operated upon, the oscillating frictional pressure roller advances, and the withdrawal of a second sheet is commenced before the sheet previously started has been completely withdrawn. The peculiar construction and operation of the devices are such as permit this IOO IIO

action without interference between any of the parts in their respective movements. The extent to which one sheet will be withdrawn before thc succeeding sheet is started depends upon the peripheral speed of the drum K as related to the frequency of action of the individualizing mechanism. I prefer to rotate the drum K as slowly as possible so as to move the sheets from the pack with the least amount of sliding action between adjacent sheets. Vhen long sheets are being fed, as many as six sheets may be in process of withdrawal from the pack at one time.

To secure certainty of action between the oscillating frictional pressure roller and the drum K I prefer to drive the oscillating fric'- tional pressure roller positively and not depend, for the driving of that roller, upon the contact of the roller with the drum K as such driving contact becomes very uncertain when several thicknesses of paper lie between the roller and the drum, and would result in irregularity in the withdrawal of the sheets. Hence I extend one end of the roller shaft M and place thereon a gear M17 driven from a gear K3 on the shaft K of the drum K. As the oscillating friction pressure roller oscillates about the drum the gear M17 oscillates similarly about the gear K3 and thus the oscillating frictional pressure roller is, at all times, whether in process of oscillation or at rest, driven with the proper speed relatively to the drum K. If preferred the oscillating frictional pressure roller may be gear driven from both ends. Shoulders M18and KA1 on the gears M1T and K3, respectively, of the same diameter as the pitch circles of the gears, by rolling contact prevent the gears from being forced into too close engagement by the spring pressed bearings of the shaft M.

The actionbetween the oscillating frictional pressure roller and the drum K is constant and sufiicient to complete the withdrawal of the sheets from the pack, but I prefer to assist the roller by a second frictional pressure roller which may be constructed, mounted and driven the same as the oscillating frictional pressure roller except that it is not necessary to oscillate it. I will here only mention the several parts of this assistant roller and reference may be made for further details to the previous description of similar parts of the oscillating frictional pressure roller.

N is the shaft of the assistant frictional pressure roller.

N is the cross bar which supports the bearings of the shaft N. This bar extends entirely across the machine and is secured at either end by flanges to the side frames A. N2 are the frictional disks of this roller mounted on spools N3.

N1 are the bearings of the shaft N having shoulders N5 fitting into sockets N6 in the bar N.

In general N7are thekey plugs screwed in the bottom of sockets N6 and N3 the stems of the bearings projecting into the key plugs.

Ngare the coil springs about the stems N8.

N10 is the gear on end of shaft N driven by gearKA1 on shaft K and N11 is thc shoulder on the gear N10.

Vhen the oscillating frictional pressure roller is in the position shown in Fig. 1I the forward edge of the sheet, as it begins its movement from the pack, would, if unsupported, fall below the line of contact between the assistant frictional pressure roller and the drum. Hence I provide means for directing and supporting the sheet un( il the oscillating frictional pressure roller shall have resumed its normal position.

N12 are fingers preferably constructed of sheet metal and secured to the side of the cross bar N. These fingers extend upward and are bent rearward conforming to the periphery ofthe drum K and have a slight downward curvature at their extremities to insure the passage of the edge of the sheet over the lingers. These fingers are preferably of the same width as the curved pieces L of the lingers L and are located immediately in front of them. The fingers N12 guide the sheet under the drum K into the bite between the assistant frictional pressure roller and the drum. When the spools M10 are in their normal position they occupy the spaces between adjacent fingers N12. After the sheet has passed under the action of the assistant frictional pressure roller it is under the action of both of the pressure rollers at once with the result of a very certain and steady withdrawal from the pack.

Sheet registering mechanism-O wing to imperfect adjustment of the pack or of some of the sheets, or to inaccuracies in the operation of the withdrawing devices, sheets will, at times, be out of proper alignment after they have been withdrawn from the holder; and to restore such sheets to their proper position I employ a device to register the sheets after they have left the holder and before they are delivered to mechanism which is to produce the final and complete separation of the sheets. The registering devices which I employ consist of a conveyer to receive the sheets as they are withdrawn from the pack and to convey them away from the holder, front stops to temporarily stop the forward movement of each sheet in succession and a side registering device for bringing the sheets into line while so stopped. In describing this part of my invention I shall refer more particularly to Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, 2O and 2l.

The conveyer which I employ consists of traveling bands or cords supported by suitable rollers or disks and may be designated as a conveying apron.

O is the rear roller of the conveying apron mounted on the shaft O which may be supported in bearings carried by the side frames IOO atasco e This roller is placed in proper relation to the drum K to :receive the sheets carried forward thereby.

P are disks forming the front roller of the conveying apron, mounted on the shaft P which may be supported in bearings also carried by the side frame A. The front roller of the apron I prefer to form of disks instead of using a continuous roller like the roller O, in order to admit certain parts intoy the spaces between the disks.

P2 are the bands or cords which pass about and connect the rollers 0 and P and which receive and support the sheets from the holder.

I have shown the conveying apron inclined slightly upward, but this is unimportant.

Q is a platform or apron board below the bands P2 and serves to uphold the bands from sagging by the weight of the sheets which they carry. This platform may have a forward side extension Q to support the forward edge of the sheets at the side where they are operated upon by the side registering fingers, and may have a side edge Q2, against which the sheets may be registered.

Q3 are the cross bars which support the platform Q and these cross bars may be supported by brackets Q4 carried by the side frames A.

The front stops used for retarding the sheets while being operated upon by the side registering device maybe of any proper construction and may be operated in any convenient manner. The stops which I prefer to employ are a part of the final separating device and will be described in detail when I describe that device. The front stops are reciprocating and, at one period of their reciprocation, they pass across the pathway of the sheets. A sheet in its movement strikes the stops and is temporarily stopped. The side registry then takes place after which the front stops reciprocate out of the pathway of the sheet and the sheet passes forward.

As the sheets pass from under the drum l K, by the action of the withdrawing devices in the manner described, they will be laid upon the conveying apron with several sheets underlying one another but with the top sheet always in advance of the underlying` sheets. The surface speed of the conveying apron should be equal to or somewhat in excess of that of the drum K, so as to keep the sheets straight and fiat as they pass from the drum. In order that the longer sheets may pass out from under the action of the withdrawing drum and be free upon the conveyer before they strike the front stops, those stops must be placed at a distance from the drum K at least equal to the length of the longest sheet designed to be fed by the machine and the conveyer must be of a length to span the dis tance between the drum and the front stops. When shorter sheets are fed several sheets may lie free upon the apron at the same time. As the sheets pass over the conveyer the advanced free top sheet strikes against the front stops and is thereby held stationary while the underlying sheets continue their forward movement. The distance between the forward edges of successive sheets as related to the surface speed of the conveyer is such that after the top sheet is stopped and before the sheet next underlying the top sheet can reach the front stop on its forward movement sufficient time will elapse to permit the top sheet to be registered or moved into proper alignment and to allow the front stops to reciprocate and permit the passage of the registered top sheet and to return to intercept the next sheet.

R are the side registering vfingers of which there may be several distributed along the side edge of the conveyor. In the drawings I have shown five such fingers. These fin gers terminate in frictional rubbing pads adapted to engage the surface of the sheet to be registered along its side edge. These rubbing pads may be constructed like the rubbing pads of the buckling finger I with two frictional rubbing disks R se cured to the fingers R by bolts or pins R2 provided with thumb nuts R3. For further details of these rubbing pads reference may be had to the previous description of the buckling finger.

The fingers R are operated to drop upon the sheet at the proper time and give a short quick lateral stroke and then to rise and remain elevated untilthe next sheet is in position to be registered. The mechanism which I employ to effect these movements consists of a combination of levers or arms, rods and cams.`

S are arms rigidly secured to a rocking rod S as by thumb screws S2. The rod S may be supported by suitable bearing standards T and T carried by the side frameA. There maybe one arm S for each finger R. The fingers R are loosely secured to the inwardly projecting ends of the arms S, and for this purpose each finger R may be provided with a slender upward limb inserted through a hole in the end of an arm S and supported by nuts R4 en the top of the finger. When the rod S is rocked so as to elevate the arms S, the fingers R are lifted by the nuts R4 away from the sheet. (See Fig. 2l.) Then the rod S is rocked so as to lower the arms S the fingers R are allowed to drop upon the sheet. (See Fig. 20.) The nuts R4 are so adjusted that, when the fingers R rest upon the sheet, the ends of the arms will pass ashort distance below the nuts R4 so that the entire weight of the fingers rests upon the sheet, and the arms S merely steady the fingers R without supporting them, and by varying the adjustment of the nuts R4 the time during which the finger R will rest upon the sheets may be varied.

U are rods which give the lateral movement to the registering lingers R. There may be one of these rods for each finger attached by a proper pivot to the finger at a point between IOO the rubbing pads of the finger and the arm S. The outer end of each rod U may be oonnected to a swivel piece U swiveled in a clamp piece U2 clamped upon a vibrating rod U3, as by thumb nuts U4. The vibrating rod U3 may be upheld by rocker arms U? firmly secured to a rocking rodVsupported inbearings formed in the standards'f and T. The rocking of the arms U5 by the rod V communicates an intermittent vibrating or oscillating movement to the rod U3 about the shaft V. The intermittent vibratory motion of the rod U3 is communicated through rods U and attachments to each registering finger R. The movements of the parts are so timed that the fingers commence their outward movement to register the sheets at or just before the instant that the fingers drop on the sheet and the fingers are lifted from the sheet at orjust before the completion of. the registering stroke. The fingers then return to their inward position over the sheets and there remain suspended until the next sheet is to be registered.

The movements of the registering fingers are made rapidly and their action draws the sheet operated upon squarely against the side registering strip Q2.

It will sometimes happen that the sheet 3o will strike the registering strip Q2 before a registering finger has completed its outward movement. Under such conditions if the finger have a positive registering stroke, any further outward movement of the finger after the edge of the sheet has come in contact with the strip Qiwill bend or buckle the sheet, and when the finger is lifted and releases the sheet the recoil of the buckled part would spring the edge of the sheet away from the strip Q2 and destroy the registration, and the short kink or buckle thus put into the edge of the sheet might tear or injuriously mark it. It is therefore desirable that the registering fingers shall have a yielding outward or registering stroke whereby the fingers may be permitted to stop by being held against further movementby the stiffness of the sheet between the pads of the registering fingers and the side stop when the sheet is stopped by coming into contact with the side stop. Hence I communicate this movement to the fingers through the medium of springs of proper tension. For this purpose the rods U are extended through the swivels U and carry coil springs U6 retained by adjustable nuts U7. These rods U are free to move in their swivels and the springs, which bear at one end against the swivels and at the other end against the nuts U7, tend to keep the rods U in their normal position with shoulders U s on the rods in contact with the swivels. When the swivels U oscillate outward they operate the rods U through the medium of the springs U6. If, in the course of an outward movement of any registering finger, the edge of the sheet adjacent to the finger registers against the registering strip Q2 before the outward movement of the swivel U is completed then the registering finger is stopped by the friction of its friction pad upon the registered sheet, but the swivel U continues its movement and, during the remainder of the outward movement of the swivel after the registering finger has ceased to move, the spring U6 is compressed. If one end of the sheet strikes the strip Q2 before the other then the fingers at the registered end of the sheet stop while the fingers at the other end continue their forward movement until that end also is registered, so that a sheet ont of line with the registering strip Q2 will be brought into proper position. rThe registering fingers are so arranged relatively to the edge of the sheet that the frictional pads of the fingers shall seize the sheet as near its side edge as they will operate and perform the functions assigned to them so that a relatively short stretch of the sheet shall lie between the pads and the side stop thereby reducing to aminimum the tendency ofthe sheets to buckle under the action of the pads. The nuts U7 may be adjusted to vary the tension of the springs U6.

To adapt the registering fingers to sheets of different degrees of fiexibility the nuts R4 or the nuts U7 or all of them may be adjusted. By adjusting the nuts R4 the time during each outward stroke of the fingers R that the fingers will be in operative contact with the sheets may be varied and by adjusting the nuts UT the force with which 4the fingers draw upon the sheet will be varied.

S3 is a projecting arrn attached firmly to the rocker rod S and V is a similar projecting arm attached to the rocker rod V.

V2 is a coiled spring connecting the ends of the arms S3 and V and tending to draw the ends of these arms toward one another, and thus to maintain them and their respective rocker rods and attached parts in their normal positions with the registering fingers advanced and suspended over the sheets.

lV is a cam shaft supported in bearings secured to the side frame A.

S4 is a rod pivoted to the arm S3 and passing therefrom downward through a vertical bearing formed in the standard T. The rod S4 is provided on its lower end with a frictional roller S5 .adapted to be operated upon by the cam S which is secured to and turns with the shaft W. The cam S6 through the medium of the roller S5, rod S4 and arm S3 rocks the rod S to depress the inward ends of the arms S and lowers the registering fingers. The fingers are elevated by the spring V2.

V3 is an arm attached firmly to the rocker rod V and extending down therefrom. The arm V3 may form with the lever V, a single construction having a common hub as shown. A frictional roller V4 pivoted to the lower end of arm V3 is adapted to be operated upon by the cam V5 which is secured to and turns with the shaft V. The cam V5 through the medium of roller V4 and arm V3 rocks the rod ICO IIO 

